E-Lotto Launch: A New Era for Digital Lottery in the Philippines

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has initiated the pilot test of its new digital lottery platform, known as e-lotto. This marks a significant advancement in the PCSO’s offerings, transitioning from traditional lottery to a digital format. The e-lotto platform, available on the PCSO’s website, is designed to make lottery participation more convenient and accessible for Filipinos, both in the Philippines and globally. The PCSO is also planning to launch a mobile application version of e-lotto soon, further enhancing accessibility.

A notable change accompanying the launch of e-lotto is the increase in the minimum jackpot prizes for the Ultra Lotto 6/58 and Grand Lotto 6/55, now set at P500 million each, summing up to a combined P1 billion. This move is part of the PCSO’s “Handog Pakabog” Christmas draws, aiming to offer larger prizes to lucky bettors.

The digital shift to e-lotto was partly influenced by the challenges faced during the pandemic, where PCSO sales declined due to the lack of digital betting options. With e-lotto, the PCSO aims to continuously generate funds, even in unforeseen circumstances, to support its charity work. The organization anticipates a significant increase in its projected sales, expecting them to reach up to P70 billion next year.

The security of the e-lotto system is a priority, and measures such as data encryption, access control, security audits, audit logs, network security, and data loss prevention are in place to protect player data. This initiative reflects the PCSO’s commitment to providing a safe, modern, and convenient gaming experience for its patrons.

To participate in e-lotto, individuals need to be 18 years old or above, possess a government-issued ID, and have a local mobile number for registration. Bettors also have the option to use e-wallets like Gcash for topping up credits and receiving prizes electronically​​​​​​​​​​​​.